Seed disinfectant



' ronEsT J. roux, or wxnume'ron,

Patented Aug. 18, 193i UNITED s ATEs PATENT OFFICE DELAWABE, ASSIGNOR T E. I. DU PONT DE WARE snnn ms'mrnc'renr No Drawing. Original application filed Kay 21, 1927, Serial No. 193,380. Divided and this application filed December 2, 1930. Serial No. 499,536.

This invention relates to seed disinfectants,-

and more particularly to preparations of the character described which, because of their In recent years the trend of the development of seed disinfectants has been in. the direction of products which may be ap lied to theseed in the form' of dry dust. here are, however, certain disadvantages inherent in the dry dusting of seeds which arise in part from the necessity of employing mechanical agitation. Mechanical agitation involves special apparatus and, on a large scale operation, a source of power. Also, in the case of certain seeds, considerable damage is caused by the agitation. Heretofore attempts to obviate this disadvantage by applying the disinfectant in liquid form have not proven satisfactory. Only soluble materials could be so applied and the cost and inconvenience involved in applying a sufficient quantit of such a solution to be effective rendere the method impractical.

I have now discovered a disinfecting pre aration which is especially adapted or e cient application to the seeds in liquid form. The new preparation comprises, in admixture with the active disinfectant material, finely divided material adapted to form in water a homogeneous suspension or colloidal solution of a fairly permanent character. For this purpose I may use either reversible or irreversible colloids. The particles of such a suspension or solution naturally tendtojadhere to an object immersed therein. This, therefore, only necessary to di the seeds in the Water suspension or colloi al-solution of the new preparation to thoroughly and instantaneously apply to them a layer of material embodying the disinfectant.

For this purpose either water soluble or insoluble disinfectants may be advantageously applied in this manner. If insoluble, the finely divided disinfectant will be buoyed up when water is added and held uniformly distributed throughout the liquid mass by co-pending apin U. S. Patent the colloidal matter. If the disinfectant is soluble in the water it follows that a much larger quantity of the solution will be heldon the dipped seed by the adhering colloidal matter than would remain on a seed dipped in an ordinary solution of the disinfectant. The suspension may also be applied by sprinkling or in any other well known manner so long as the seed isthoroughly wetted. As examples of finely divided materials which lend themselves to the preparation of a product of such physical composition that a homogeneous and relatively permanent suspension is formed in water, I may mention potters clay, kaolin, bentonite, gelatimglue, casein and agar-agar. It'will be apparent from the foregoing that other finely divided materials adapted to form a colloidal s'uspen v sion or solution in water may be employed.

I have used the term .hydrophilic colloidal material iii this application to indicate a finely divided solid material which has the property of formin with water, a relatively permanent and so stantially homogeneous suspension. v 7

In addition. to the disinfectant and colloid I may also employ an inert, non-colloidal material as a mechanical diluent to add to the covering power of the active constituent. Fullers earth, diatomaceous earth, hydrated lime, calcium carbonate, dolomite and calcium sulphate. are examples of such a material. These inert materials may be of such nature that upon drying a relatively hard coating not easily removed by friction will be formed. p

active disinfectant material is also, of course, susceptible of variation. I have found, besides the organic mercury compounds, that the inorganic mercury compounds are particularly adapted for my purpose. Especially suitable are the mercury, and mercury sulfate.

'In' order to disclose the invention in more detail the following examplesof 'actual embodiments thereof are presented. It is to be understood, of course, that these examples are furnished for illustrative purposes solely, and that it is not my intention to be limited to chlorides of the forth.

. Examples: 51;;

1.Mercurychloride 6 (asoluble salt) Bentomte 94 2.Mercury sulfate 10 (an inorganic m e r c u r y salt) Bentonite 90 3.Mercury chloride"--- 12 Lime 7 Sodium carbonate 5 Bentonite In this latter example, the insoluble mercury oxide is formed in the presence of the lime and bentonite. In all of these mixtures other materials than those specified may be added, such for example, as calcium sulfate, to replace a part of the bentonite. The calcium sulfate assists in producing a more permanent coat on the surface of the seeds.

In any one of these examples I may also use more than one mercury salt, and this tato seed treatment. All of the material can" .used andthe inevitable losses incidental to applying finely divided powder in "dry form are eliminated. Since no agitation is re- 'uired, in'ury to seeds, such as potatoes, is t us avoi ed and a source of power is' not necessary. The fact that inert materials can i be combined in the product to insure upon 'dryin a hard coating that wilhnot rubofl in the su sequent handling is also important.

Also, cut potatoes while still wet from cutting can be immediatel treated and a uniform coatin obtained. ry dusting is practically im sslble under these conditions.

} many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the specific embodiments thereof except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

'1. A seed disinfecting reparation which comprises a water insoluble mercury oxide and a h drophilic colloidal material, said preparation adapted to form with water a proportions or ingredients therein set formed in the presence of lime and bentonite.

3. A seed disinfecting preparation which comprises a water insoluble mercury compound, calcium sulfate and a hydrophilic colloidal material, said preparation adapted to form with water a substantially permanent and substantially homogeneous suspension.

4. A seed disinfectingpreparation which comprises in admixture a water insoluble mercury oxide and bentonite said preparation adapted to form with water a substantially permanent and substantially homogeneous suspension.

5. A seed disinfecting preparation which comprises in admixture a water insoluble inorganic mercury compound and bcntonite, adapted to form with Water a substantially permanent and substantially homogeneous suspension.

6. A seed disinfecting preparation which comprises in admixture awater insoluble inorganic mercury compound, calcium sulfate and bentonite, said preparation adapted to form with water a substantially permanent and substantially homogeneous suspension.

7. A seed disinfectant preparation which comprises a substantially water insoluble inorganic mercury compound, a hydrophilic colloidal material and a non-colloidal substance.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

FOREST J. FUNK.

substantially permanent and substantially homo eneous suspension.

2. seed, dislnfectm preparation wh ch comprises a water mso u le mercury oxide 

